Conduit clip



April l0, 1945. H. R E| |NWOOD 2,373,300

Filed March 20, 1945 Suma/whom Patented Apr. 10, 1945 ooNnUl'r CLIP l Herman Ray Ellinwood, Burbank, Calif., assig'nor to Adel Precision Products Corp., a corporation of California Application March 20, 1943, Serial No. 479,955

Claims.

This invention relates to aircraft conduit supporting clips of the type shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,279,866 issued April 14, 1942, wherein an electrically condu-ctive bonding strip is joined to the metal conduit-embracing strap as by being formed integral therewith and overlies the conduit-embracing cushion on the strap so as to contact the conduit embraced by the cushion to bond the conduit to the metallic structure of the aircraftthrough the strip and the strap.

The clip shown in the aforesaid patent is provided with an integral bonding strip which in one instance is struck out from the longitudinal midportion of the conduit-embracing part of the metal strap and protrudes through the cushion for contact with the conduit.

In another form of the clip of said patent the bonding strip is formed as a continuation of one of the ends of the strap, and in still another form the strip is struck out from the longitudinal midportion of the strap and extends over an end of the cushion w'ithout protruding through the cushion.

In the form in which the strip protrudes through the cushion the perforation of the cushion impairs the cushioning and insulating qualities thereof and the strap proper is objectionably weakened. In the form in which the strip is a continuation of an end of the strap it is necessary to double the end back on itselfvwhich requires an extra amount of material and adds objectionable bulkat the ends of the strap. In the form in which the strip is struck out so as to overlie the cushion without protruding through it, the strap is objectionably weakened. Y f.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a conduit clip oi-fthe character described in which the bonding strip is joinedA with and carried by the strap in such manner that the strap is not weakened, the conduit-engaging surface of the cushion is not perforated, objectiona 1e bulkiness at the amount of metal is required, with the advantages of appreciable simplicity of manufacture of the strap and in the assembly of the clip. p

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved conduit .clip of the character described in which the bonding strip is joined to a side or longitudinal edge of the strap intermediate the ends of the strap and disposed to overlie the, conduit-engaging surface of the cushion, whereby the strap may be easily and inexpensively manufactured as a simple blank without weakening the strap proper or appreciably adding bulk thereto and the operation of assembling the clip is simplified compared to clips having integral or otherwise strap-joined bonding strips as heretofore made.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan View of'a clip embodying my invention showing the strap, cushion and bonding strip as they appear before being bent into final form;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top in Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig, 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the assembly shown in Fig. 3 with the bonding strip bent into position overlying the cushion;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken 0n the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a complete clip as preformed to embrace a conduit;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the clip as installed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, it is seen that a conduit clip embodying my invention includes a resilient metal conduit-embracing strap l having normally spaced apart opposed apertured ends 2 which areI adapted to be brought together by means of a screw 3 to clamp the clip on a conduit 4 and secure it to a metal structural part 5 of an aircraft; a conduit-embracing cushioning member 6 of yieldable insulation material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like, carried on the strap as a seat for the conduit, and an electrically conductive bonding strip 'l joined to a side edge of the strap and bent to overlie the conduit-engaging surface of the cushioning member for the p-urpose of grounding the conduit through the strap to the metallic structure of the aircraft.

As here` shown the bonding strip 'l is formed integrally with the strap I, and is substantially L-shaped, with the shorter leg 'l' joined to a side edge of the strap and normally extended outwardly at right angles thereto While the longer leg l" extends lengthwise of the strap in outwardly spaced and parallel relation to said edge.

plan View of the assembly shown lslightlv resilient bonding element lie the imperorate conduit=enga lx1 the forming' pf this inte? is swaged or otherwise treated so that it will have considerably Less thicmess than the strap proper and constitute a very thin, narrow, enible and which is bent over a side edge portion of the cushion t to overface of the said cushion after the latter is applied to rthe strap as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

site: the bending stru has teendoent to cause its longer leg i" to overlie the, cushion member as shown in Fig/5, the assembly is bent to form a circular open loop and the strip i taires an arcu ate form andlies in close conformity to the curvature of the cushion and strap as shown in Figs. 7 and i3.

As here shown cross section and provided with spaced opposed iianges t adapted to overlie the strap to hold the cushion thereon, the side edges of the looped portion of said strapbeing covered by said cushion except where the latter is out away along a side edge thereof as at Q to accommodate the strip i.'

With reference to Fig, 6 it is seen that the bonding strip i is bent at a point adjacent its joint with the strap i, so as to form a curved portion iii havinga curvature of at least 170. This provides a spring action in the bonding strip, re= lleves breaking stresses at the joint, maires for a smooth or flush bonding surface on the con duit-engaging face ofy the cushion, and prevents impairment of the cushioning action and damaging wear oi the conduit where contacted with said strip. It is apparent that when the clip is clamped around the conduit the bonding strip will be forced into and become somewhat embedded in the yieldable cushion thereby providing the aforesaid iiushl seating of the bonding strip in the cushion member.

It should be noted that in joining of the bond ing strip to a side edge of the strap at a'point spaced inwardly'k from the ends of the cushion which has its ends spaced inwardly from the opposed ends 2 of the strap, and in bending the strip so that it overlies the cushion for contact with the conduit, it is unnecessary to perforate the conduit-engaging face of the cushion or to weaken the strap in any manner or produce bulkiness at the end of the strap. Moreover, the bonding strip in being formed integral with or otherwise joined to the strap at a side edge of the latter as above noted providesv for a more direct and lpositive electrical connection between the bonding strip with the strap and insures a reliable bonding of the conduit to the metal structure of the aircraft, with less likelihood of clerangement of the bonding strip or the breaking thereof at its joint.

Also, it is to be observed that an advantage resides in thefact that the bonding strip, which is integral with the strap i, extends for a short distance from a side edge of the latter in the same plane therewith and is then bent around an edge the cushion d is of c eledV aeraeoo and the imcntion embraces nich c i ncations and eoiuivcienisoi the and their fo ation and arrangement ae come within' the purview' oi the appended cla.

i. in a conduit sonno 1 clinLa metallic conduit-embracing strap adapted to be secured to and in contact with a metallic structural part of an aircraft, a conduit-embracing cushion member ci `jrleldabie insulation marial lining said stron, and a metallic bon strip integrally joined to a side` edge of said strap and extended from said joint over the cushion member for con tact with the` conduit seated on said .cushion mbergto bond the conduit to the strap.

'2. in a conduit supporting clin, a metallic con duitser-coing strap adapted to be secured to and in contact with a 'ein structural part oi an aircraft, a conduit-embracing cushion memconsisting of a thinned integral extension of a side edge portion of said strap.

3. In a conduit supporting clip, a metal conduit-embracing strap having opposed normally spaced apart agiertureciA ends adapted to be brought together to clamp the strap around a conduit and, provide or the fastening of said ends to a metallic support, a cushion member of yieldable insulation material lining said strap and providing a cushioned seat for the conduit, said cushion member having its ends spaced inwardly from the apertured ends of the strap, a metallic bonding strip of considerably less thiol@ ness than said strap, formed integral with a side edge of said strap at a point between the ends of said cushion member and being bent upwardly and inwardly to overlie said cushion member for contact with the conduit seated on said member.

a. In a conduit supporting clip. a metallicconduit-embracing strap adapted to be secured to and in contact with a metallic structural part of an aircraft, a conduit-embracing cushion member of yieldable insulation material lining said strap and covering the edges of the conduit embracing part thereof, and a metallic bonding strip integrally joined to a side edge of said strap and extended from said joint over the cushion member for contact with the conduit seated on said 'accommodate said bent portion o said bonding strip. u

5. In a conduit supporting clip, a metallic conduit-embracing strap adapted to be secured to and in contact with a metallic structural part of of said cushion andextends from its bent part an aircraft, a conduit-embracing cushion memn ber of yieldable insulation material lining said strap, and ametallic bonding strip joined integrally to a side edge of said strap ronrwhiclu it extends for a short distance in the e plane therewith and isv then bent around an edge of said cushion and extends from its bent part into a terminal portion which lies within said cushion and in a bonding contact with the conduit.

MAN RAY E .l In 

